U.S. National Team Begins World Cup Campaign

One week from today the U.S. national team will launch its 18-month quest to qualify for the 2014 World Cup with a home match in Tampa against Antigua and Barbuda. It will be the first of 18-20 games coach Jurgen Klinsmann and his team must negotiate to reach the finals in Brazil.

The U.S. and Antigua are joined by Guatemala and Jamaica in Group A, one of three groups of four teams. The top two finishers in each group will comprise the six-nation final round, which will be contested as a double round-robin in 2013. The top three teams at the conclusion of that stage will qualify for the 2014 World Cup, while the fourth-place team will enter a playoff with Oceania’s top team for the final spot.

The USA and Antigua will meet at 7 p.m. ET on June 8 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa with tickets starting at $22 through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout Tampa Bay (including many Walmart stores).
Tampa is only a short drive from Florida Leisure’s vacation homes so why not go and watch the US national team start their quest for World Cup glory?